LIGHT-FIELD TOMOGRAPHIC FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME IMAGING MICROSCOPY (LIFT-FLIM)

Application No. 19/007,673

• Filed: Jan 02, 2025
• Priority: Jan 02, 2024 — provisional 63/616,967
• Examiner: HO, ALLEN C
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
• OA Round: 1 (Non-Final)

Office Action

DETAILED ACTION

Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .

Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) apparatus claim in claimed in claim 1 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a processor and a non-transitory memory claimed in claim 5 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) apparatus claimed in claim 7 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a processor and a non-transitory memory claimed in claim 12 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) system claimed in claim 14 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.

Claim Objections
Claims 1-6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
1. (Proposed Amendments) A light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) apparatus, comprising:
(a) an objective;
(b) a field stop; and
(c) a fluorescence lifetime imager,
(i) an array of Dove prisms configured to receive light from the field stop;
(ii) a plurality of lenslets, each lenslet optically coupled to at least one Dove prism of [[said]] the array of Dove prisms;
(iii) a plurality of cylindrical lenses,
(iv) an image sensor configured to image light received from [[said]] the plurality of cylindrical lenses.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities:
2. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an excitation light source; and
a dichroic mirror disposed between [[said]] the objective and [[said]] the field stop.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 3 is objected to because of the following informalities:
3. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein [[said]] the image sensor comprises one or more linear SPAD arrays.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 is objected to because of the following informalities:
4. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 1, [[said]] the image sensor further comprises:
a first camera lens;
a diffractive grating;
a second camera lens;
an ultrafast time gate;
a third camera lens; and
a 2D camera.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 5 and 6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
5. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a processor configured to control [[said]] the plurality of cylindrical lenses and the image sensor; and
a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;
wherein [[said]] the instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:
acquiring a dataset of image data from the fluorescence lifetime imager over time; and
analyzing the acquired dataset of image data.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities:
6. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein [[said]] the instructions when executed by the processor further perform steps comprising:
controlling [[the]] a target illumination light source (a lack of an antecedent basis); and
controlling [[the]] a rate (a lack of an antecedent basis) of image data acquisition.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities:
8. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a field stop disposed between the objective and the image compression unit (ICU).
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities:
9. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein [[said]] the image compression unit (ICU) comprises:
a scanning mirror;
a first lenslet;
a rotatable Dove prism configured to receive light from the field stop by the scanning mirror through the first lenslet;
a second lenslet optically coupled to the rotatable Dove prism; and
a cylindrical lens, .
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities:
10. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein [[said]] the image compression unit (ICU) comprises:
an array of Dove prisms configured to receive light from the field stop;
a plurality of lenslets, each lenslet optically coupled to at least one Dove prism of [[said]] the array of Dove prisms;
a plurality of cylindrical lenses,
a slit array.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 is objected to because of the following informalities:
11. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein [[said]] the image dispersion unit (IDU) comprises:
a first relay lens optically coupled to the slit array of the [[ICU]] image compression unit (ICU);
a diffraction grating;
a second relay lens,
[[said]] the diffraction grating disposed between [[said]] the first relay lens and [[said]] the second relay lens; and
an imaging device.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 12 and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities:
12. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a processor configured to control said lenses and imaging device; and
a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;
wherein [[said]] the instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:
controlling [[the]] a target illumination light source (a lack of an antecedent basis); and
controlling the image compression unit (ICU);
controlling the image dispersion unit (IDU);
controlling [[the]] an acquisition of data (a lack of an antecedent basis); and
analyzing an acquired dataset.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities:
13. (Proposed Amendments) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein [[said]] the processor further performs the step comprising:
displaying images derived from [[said]] the analyzed acquired dataset on a display.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 14-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
14. (Proposed Amendments) A light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) system, comprising:
(a) a sample excitation subsystem of a microscope objective, a laser source, and a field stop;
(b) an image compression subsystem of a scanning mirror, a first lens, a moveable dove prism, a second [[lens]] lens, and a circular lens;
(c) an imaging subsystem [[with]] comprising an image sensor;
(d) a processor configured to control [[said]] the lenses and the imaging sensor; and
(e) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;
(f) wherein [[said]] the instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:
(i) acquiring a dataset of image data from the imaging sensor over time; and
(ii) analyzing the acquired dataset of image data.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 15 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
15. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 14, wherein [[said]] the sample excitation subsystem comprises:
a microscope objective;
a laser source of a pulsed laser, a diffuser, a first lens, a second [[lens;]] lens, and an excitation filter;
a dichroic mirror; and
an emission filter.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities:
16. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 15, [[said]] the sample excitation subsystem further comprises:
a reference camera configured to produce a reference intensity image;
a beam splitter optically coupled to a lens, the emission filter, and the reference camera
a scanning mirror.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities:
17. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 14, wherein [[said]] the image compression unit (ICU) comprises:
an array of Dove prisms configured to receive light from the field stop;
a plurality of lenslets, each lenslet optically coupled to at least one Dove prism of [[said]] the array of Dove prisms;
a plurality of cylindrical lenses,
a slit array.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities:
18. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 14, wherein [[said]] the imaging subsystem further comprises one or more linear SPAD arrays.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 is objected to because of the following informalities:
19. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 14, wherein the imaging subsystem further comprises:
a first camera lens;
a diffractive grating;
a second camera lens;
an ultrafast time gate;
a third camera lens; and
a 2D camera.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities:
20. (Proposed Amendments) The system of claim 14, wherein the imaging subsystem further comprises:
a first imaging arm comprising a lens and a linear SPAD array;
a second imaging arm comprising a first camera lens;
a diffractive grating;
a second camera lens;
an ultrafast time gate;
a third camera lens; [[and]]
a 2D camera; and
a flip mirror configured to switch a beam from [[said]] the image compression subsystem to [[said]] the first imaging arm to [[said]] the second imaging arm and back.
Appropriate correction is required.

Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION. —The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.

The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.

Claims 5, 6, and 9-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 5 recites a limitation “imaging device” in line 2, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites a limitation “the target illumination light source” in line 2, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.

Claim 9 recites a limitation “the field stop” in line 5, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim. Claim 8 previously recites a limitation “a field stop” in line 1.
Claim 10 recites a limitation “the field stop” in line 3, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim. Claim 8 previously recites a limitation “a field stop” in line 1.
Claim 11 recites a limitation “the slit array” in line 3, renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim. Claim 10 previously recites a limitation “a slit array” in line 8.
Claim 12 recites a limitation “the lenses” in line 2, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 12 recites a limitation “imaging device” in line 2, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 12 recites a limitation “the target illumination light source” in line 6, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.

Claim 14 recites a limitation “the lenses” in line 8, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 14 recites a limitation “imaging device” in line 8, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 14 recites a limitation “imaging device” in line 13, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites a limitation “a lens” in line 4, which renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear whether the limitation refers to the first lens or the second lens.
Claim 17 recites a limitation “the image compression unit (ICU)” in line 1, which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.

The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS. —Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.

The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.

Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 17 fails to further limit the light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-LIM) system of claim 14. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.

Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 is allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
With respect to claim 7, the prior art failed to disclose or fairly suggested a light field tomography fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (LIFT-FLIM) apparatus as claimed.

Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Gao et al. (U. S. Patent No. 12,631,895 B2) disclosed an ultrafast light-field tomography.
Wang et al. (U. S. Patent No. 11,792,381 B2) disclosed phase-sensitive compressed ultrafast photography systems and methods.
Park et al. (U. S. Patent No. 11,562,584 B2) disclosed systems and methods to reduce scattering in temporal focusing multi-photon microscopy.
Hillman (U. S. Patent No. 11,036,037 B2) disclosed microscopy devices, systems, and methods.
Hillman (U. S. Patent No. 10,061,111 B2) disclosed systems and methods for three-dimensional imaging.
Yekta et al. (U. S. Patent No. 8,063,386 B2) disclosed a time-resolved fluorescent imaging system.
Y. Ma, J. Park, L. Huang, C. Sen, S. Burri, C. Bruschini, X. Yang, Q. Cui, R.B. Cameron, G.A. Fishbein, B.N. Gomperts, A. Ozcan, E. Charbon, & L. Gao, Light-field tomographic fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121 (40) e2402556121, (2024).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Allen C. Ho, whose telephone number is [phone]. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 10AM - 6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David J. Makiya, can be reached at [phone]. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is [phone].
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Allen C. Ho, Ph.D.
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2884

/Allen C. Ho/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884 [e-mail]

Prosecution Timeline

• Jan 02, 2025: Application Filed
• Jul 29, 2026: Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)